Real Madrid want €500M buyout clause in Bale deal

The Guardian says Bale's new contract, which his agent Jonathan Barnett has been negotiating with the club for the past few months, will include a €500 million release clause (double that of Lionel Messi's, although half of Cristiano's €1 billion buyout stipulation).

The clause is intended to dissuade the advances of Manchester United, who have been continually linked with the Welshman over the past two seasons.

The Welshman's current contact comes to an end in 2019, with the club wanting to extend his deal to 2021 (effectively tying him down for the remainder of his top-level career), while Bale is also set to receive a hefty salary rise.